The new Ford Ranger Tremor is earmarked to arrive in South Africa in the first half of 2024 alongside the more luxurious Ranger Platinum, but Ford has already revealed all the goodies that the special-edition double cab will come with.
The Tremor is based on the mid-spec Ranger XLT and offers all the enhanced off-roading skills of the new Wildtrak X but at a more attainable price point.
It therefore brings Ford’s advanced four-wheel-drive system, an uprated suspension package, as well as the sought-after Trail Turn Assist ability.
In addition, the newcomer will be the first Ranger in South Africa to be equipped with the Pro Trailer Backup Assist with Trailer Reverse Guidance function.
Tremor specifications
Speaking to its adventurous personality, the new Ranger Tremor wears a black honeycomb off-road grille with integrated LED auxiliary driving lights, extended wheel-arch mouldings in Bolder Grey, unique 17-inch Asphalt Black alloy wheels accommodating all-terrain General Grabber AT3 tyres, Tremor badging on the tailgate and sides, and Bolder Grey details on the lower sections of the front bumper, H-bar, fender vents, mirror caps, door handles, and rear bumper.
Furthermore, it comes with an enthusiast-rated steel bash plate, two front tow hooks, cast aluminium side steps, a distinctive long-leg tubular sports bar, and steel underbody protection for the engine, transfer case, and fuel tank.
Completing the mechanical enhancements is the same specially-developed Bilstein position-sensitive dampers as used on the Wildtrak X, which raises ground clearance by 24mm and increases track width by 30mm, thus lending the Ford even greater control in tough driving conditions.
Alongside the Raptor, the Tremor will be the only Ranger available with Conquer Grey exterior paint, while the other choices include Agate Black, Blue Lightning, Carbonized Grey, Frozen White, Iconic Silver, and Lucid Red.
Stepping inside, the seats of the special-edition Ford are trimmed in water-resistant black vinyl with Urban Grey stitching, with an orange Tremor logo embroidered into the headrest of the electronically-powered front seats.
There are Precision Grey accents and Ebony upper trim finishes on the doors and dashboard, and vinyl flooring that makes the cabin easy to wash and clean.
In addition, the Tremor gets the larger 12-inch digital driver’s display in place of the 10.1-inch screen on the normal XLT to allow fitment of the off-road Sync screen and 360-degree camera system that assists the driver when manoeuvring in tight spaces, as well as roof-mounted auxiliary switches that allow seamless fitment of 4×4 Overlanding accessories.
Keyless entry and start are also standard, as are a wireless charger and a 12-inch portrait-style infotainment hub that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
This is complemented by an assortment of driver assist and active safety features, comprising a lane-keeping system with road-edge detection, pre-collision assist with dynamic brake support, post-collision braking, forward-collision warning with autonomous emergency braking, reverse brake assist, blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage, front and rear parking sensors, hill-descent control and launch assist, and dynamic stability control which includes load adaptive control, rollover mitigation, traction control, and trailer sway control.
The spray-in bedliner that prevents damage to the load bed floor further gets an integrated 12V socket on top of the versatile Cargo Management System that allows the owner to configure the load box into several partitions.
Driving the Tremor is Ford’s well-known 2.0-litre, bi-turbo diesel motor that puts out 154kW and 500Nm, married with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Alongside the Wildtrak X, the Tremor is the only 2.0-litre Ranger that benefits from the advanced all-wheel-drive system that includes 2H, 4H, 4L, and 4A settings – the latter being the key distinction that puts the “advanced” system above the standard 4×4 powertrain.
Instead of distributing power at fixed ratios to the front and back like a traditional 4×4, the 4A setting variably channels engine output to the axle that needs it most depending on surface conditions, making it suitable for both on-road and off-road excursions.
As with its siblings, the Tremor will also have Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul, Slippery, Mud/Ruts, Sand, and Rock Crawl drive modes.
Boosting the off-road prowess of the new double cab are three other features that are only available on a handful of Ranger variants, including Trail Turn Assist, Trail Control, and Pro Trailer Backup Assist with Trailer Reverse Guidance.
Trail Turn Assist brakes the inside wheel when negotiating tight bends in off-road conditions below 19km/h, thus reducing the vehicle’s turning radius by up to 25% to help navigate around obstacles.
Trail Control, on the other hand, will manage acceleration and braking at any speed up to 32km/h while the driver concentrates on steering through difficult terrain.
Lastly, Pro Trailer Backup Assist with Trailer Reverse Guidance helps a driver angle a trailer into any position they want.
The user enters important vehicle measurements into the central screen such as the trailer’s hitch position and length, and cameras then track the trailer while reversing and guide it accordingly.
The system provides informational graphics and up to seven camera views to simplify the tricky action, and up to 10 trailers can be stored in the bakkie’s memory for easy access later on.
Following the introduction of the Tremor, the Pro Trailer Backup Assist feature will also be fitted as standard on the Wildtrak X, Ranger Platinum, and Ranger Raptor, and be an option on the standard Wildtrak variants.
Pricing
The local pricing for the new Ranger Tremor “will be announced closer to the launch of the vehicle,” said Ford South Africa.
It should slot between the top-spec XLT 4×4 and the more expensive Wildtrak X, putting its tag in the range ballpark of R833,800 to R1,013,000.
Each Tremor will be sold with a 4-year/120,000km warranty with roadside assistance, with optional service and maintenance plans also available.
Ford Ranger Tremor
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